Inside

Inside is a puzzle platformer with modest engine demands, and the measured frame rates for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 paired with the Intel Arc B390 reveal a configuration that is heavily constrained by its graphics component. The CPU, a 10-core Arrow Lake-S part with a 3.30 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost clock, provides ample compute headroom, but the Arc B390's integrated-class performance ceiling becomes the decisive factor in every benchmark row. The data shows a system that can deliver playable results at lower resolutions and settings, yet struggles to maintain consistency at higher presets, making the GPU the primary bottleneck in all tested scenarios.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a desktop processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It features 10 cores and 10 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 20 MB L3 cache. The processor supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a theoretical bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, and it operates on the Intel Socket 1851 platform with a 65 W TDP.

In the context of Inside, the CPU's role is largely secondary, as the game's physics and logic are not particularly demanding. The benchmark results show that the Core Ultra 5 225 is not the limiting factor at any resolution or setting. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 156, which is a high enough frame rate to suggest the CPU is delivering frames well above what the GPU can process. The processor's single-core performance, measured at 4412 in Passmark's single-thread test, is robust, and its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25891 indicates strong multi-threaded capability.

Comparatively, the Core Ultra 5 225 sits at the 85th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 36938. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (avg score 36945, deltaPct 0) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (avg score 37018, deltaPct -0.2). This places the CPU in a competitive mid-range position, but its performance headroom is irrelevant when the GPU cannot keep up. The data indicates that even at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 34, the CPU is unlikely to be the cause, as the frame rate drop is more consistent with a GPU-bound scenario. The processor's 10 threads are more than sufficient for a puzzle platformer like Inside, and the benchmark results confirm that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this pairing.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process by Intel. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, with 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation units. The GPU relies on system shared memory, meaning its VRAM size, type, and bus width are all "System Shared," and its bandwidth is "System Dependent." This is a critical detail, as the lack of dedicated VRAM means the GPU competes with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which can impact performance in memory-sensitive scenarios.

The Arc B390's benchmark results are underwhelming. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 1482, placing it at the 9th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (avg score 1463, deltaPct 1.3) and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (avg score 1460, deltaPct 1.5). This indicates that the Arc B390 performs at a level comparable to older entry-level discrete GPUs, which is consistent with its integrated nature. The GPU's pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s, with a FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS.

In Inside, the GPU is the dominant bottleneck. The measured FPS data shows a clear pattern: as resolution and settings increase, frame rates drop significantly, which is typical of a GPU-limited scenario. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 156, but at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 74, a reduction of 82 FPS. This scaling suggests that the GPU's raw compute and fillrate capabilities are insufficient for higher presets. The system shared memory configuration further exacerbates this, as the lack of dedicated VRAM can lead to performance dips when the game requires more memory bandwidth. The GPU's low percentile ranking (9th) underscores its limitations, and the benchmark results indicate that it is the primary component holding back this combination.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The resolution scaling data reveals a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 156, which drops to 112 at 1440p Low (a 28% reduction) and further to 70 at 4K Low (a 55% reduction from 1080p). This pattern is consistent with a GPU that is struggling to fill pixels at higher resolutions. The same trend is evident at Medium settings, where 1080p averages 125 FPS, 1440p averages 90 FPS, and 4K averages 56 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 35 FPS, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 34 FPS, showing a relatively linear scaling as resolution increases.

At High settings, the scaling is more pronounced. The average FPS at 1080p is 78, at 1440p it is 56, and at 4K it is 35. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 22 FPS, and from 1440p to 4K is 21 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is increasingly unable to maintain performance as the pixel count rises. At Ultra settings, the frame rates are the lowest: 74 FPS at 1080p, 53 FPS at 1440p, and 34 FPS at 4K. The difference between 1080p and 4K at Ultra is 40 FPS, which is a substantial reduction.

These results clearly indicate that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates plateau at higher resolutions, but instead, they continue to drop, showing that the Arc B390 is saturated. The system shared memory configuration likely contributes to this, as the GPU's performance is dependent on the system's memory bandwidth, which can become a constraint at higher resolutions. The data suggests that users seeking higher frame rates at 4K would need to lower settings, but even at Low, the average FPS of 70 at 4K indicates that the GPU is still under significant load.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this configuration depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers the highest average FPS at 156, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. However, the Medium preset offers an average of 125 FPS with a minimum of 106 FPS, providing a more balanced experience with better visual fidelity while still maintaining high frame rates. The High preset averages 78 FPS, which remains playable, but the Ultra preset drops to 74 FPS, which is only marginally lower and may not justify the additional graphical demands.

At 1440p, the Low preset averages 112 FPS, which is excellent for a higher resolution. The Medium preset averages 90 FPS with a minimum of 76 FPS, which is still very smooth and offers a better visual experience. The High preset averages 56 FPS, which is borderline for 60 FPS gameplay, while the Ultra preset averages 53 FPS, which may result in occasional stutters. For a consistent experience at 1440p, the Medium preset appears to be the best compromise, as it provides a high average FPS and a minimum FPS that stays above 60.

At 4K, the Low preset averages 70 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. The Medium preset averages 56 FPS with a minimum of 48 FPS, which can lead to noticeable frame drops during intense scenes. The High and Ultra presets average 35 and 34 FPS respectively, which are below the 60 FPS threshold and may result in a less fluid experience. For 4K, the Low preset is the only option that consistently maintains an average FPS above 60, making it the recommended choice for this resolution. Overall, the Medium preset at 1080p or 1440p provides the best balance of visual quality and performance, while at 4K, the Low preset is the most viable option.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 3296 out of 3716 tested combos in Inside, placing it in the bottom 11% of all configurations. This low ranking is primarily due to the GPU's performance limitations, as the CPU is a relatively capable mid-range processor. The combo's rank reflects the overall gaming experience, with lower ranks indicating poorer performance. Given that the GPU is at the 9th percentile and the CPU is at the 85th percentile, the combo's rank is heavily dragged down by the graphics component.

In comparison to other combos, this pairing is likely to be outperformed by configurations with even modest discrete GPUs, such as those from the NVIDIA GT series, which appear as the Arc B390's nearest rivals. The data shows that the Arc B390's average benchmark score of 1482 is only slightly higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463) and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460), indicating that the GPU is on par with older entry-level mobile graphics. This suggests that the combo's rank is consistent with its hardware capabilities, and users should expect performance comparable to low-end systems from several years ago.

The combo's rank of 3296 out of 3716 indicates that it is in the bottom tier of tested configurations. This is likely due to the Arc B390's integrated nature, which limits its ability to handle demanding games like Inside at higher settings. While the CPU provides sufficient compute power, the GPU's limitations prevent the combo from achieving higher rankings. Users considering this configuration should be aware that it is not suitable for high-end gaming, and the measured FPS data confirms that it is best suited for lower resolutions and settings.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings is 125, with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 144 FPS.

Q: How does the Arc B390's benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463) and 1.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1460).

Q: What is the best preset for 4K gaming based on the measured data?

A: At 4K, the Low preset provides the highest average FPS at 70, making it the only preset that consistently stays above 60 FPS. Medium averages 56 FPS, while High and Ultra average 35 and 34 FPS respectively.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations in Inside?

A: The combo ranks 3296 out of 3716 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 11% of all configurations.

Q: What is the CPU's single-thread benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 4412 in Passmark's single-thread test, which is a strong result for a mid-range processor.

Q: How does the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 78 at 1080p to 56 at 1440p and then to 35 at 4K, showing a significant reduction as resolution increases.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and Intel Arc B390 combination is as follows:

At 3840x2160 (4K), the High preset averages 35 FPS, the Low preset averages 70 FPS, the Medium preset averages 56 FPS with a minimum of 48 and maximum of 65, and the Ultra preset averages 34 FPS.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the High preset averages 56 FPS, the Low preset averages 112 FPS, the Medium preset averages 90 FPS with a minimum of 76 and maximum of 103, and the Ultra preset averages 53 FPS.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the High preset averages 78 FPS, the Low preset averages 156 FPS, the Medium preset averages 125 FPS with a minimum of 106 and maximum of 144, and the Ultra preset averages 74 FPS.

These figures illustrate a clear performance hierarchy, with the highest frame rates achieved at 1080p Low and the lowest at 4K Ultra. The Medium preset at each resolution provides a middle ground, with the minimum FPS figures indicating that the system can maintain respectable frame times in most scenarios, though the 4K Medium minimum of 48 FPS suggests potential dips below 60 FPS. The data underscores the GPU-limited nature of this configuration, as the frame rates scale inversely with resolution and settings, with the CPU having ample headroom to support higher performance if the GPU were more capable.